Kenneth Branagh News

A few weeks back, I attended the opening night of The Three Musketeers at Orlando Shakes. I marveled, in particular, at a rotating stage and staircase designed by Bert Scott. The way the production team used that stage always impressed me. Imagine my delight when I came back to Orlando Shakes for the opening weekend of HENRY IV, PART 1 and saw that same exact stage now being used to represent 1492 England rather than 1628 France. Part of it is my fault, I didn't know they'd be using the same stage and assumed another theatre space at Orlando Shakes would house HENRY IV. But now knowing that this same space was used for two plays got the wheels in my head turning. It's a genius move on Orlando Shakes' part, creating a very fitting double-feature of entertainment. The same cast, the same stage, but two wholly different stories unfold.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) recently announced a five-year artistic exchange program, bringing RADA graduates and student productions to the annual Utah Shakespeare Festival, as well as training workshops for students, faculty and staff in both Utah and London. The five-year collaboration began Jan. 1, 2020 and will continue through Dec. 31, 2024, based on financial support from an anonymous donor.

Disney has released the new trailer for a?oeArtemis Fowl,a?? a breathtaking, fantastical adventure that will astonish and delight audiences of all ages, based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film follows the journey of 12-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis as he searches for his missing father.  

Hampstead Theatre, has announced the full cast and creative team for James Tait Black prize-nominated writer Hannah Khalil's dark new thriller Sleepwalking which will run from 26 March until 2 May 2020, marking her debut at the theatre.

Get ready to be swept off your feet this Easter as the timeless classic Beauty and the Beast brings magic and adventure to the Epstein Theatre.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming premiere of The Still Room, written by Sally Rogers (Hangmen, Cold Feet) which opens at Park Theatre from 29th April. Rising star Kate James leads the cast as Janice, alongside Chris Simmons (The Bill, Hollyoaks, All Or Nothing) as Kevin, Jane Slavin (Clocking Off, Moving On) as Bernice, Zoe Brough (The Nether, Harry Potter & The Cursed Child) as Diane, Larner Wallace-Taylor (How Love Is Spelt, An Inspector Calls) as Karen and Jack Colgrave Hirst (Romeo & Juliet, The Winter's Tale a?" The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company) as Dean. The Still Room is directed by Nigel Douglas and produced by Rogers Douglas Productions in association with Park Theatre, running from 29th April to 23rd May (previews on 29th and 30th April). Tickets are on sale now at www.parktheatre.co.uk and by calling the box office on 0207 870 6876. *

This Spring, the acclaimed Watermill Theatre presents the World premiere of a captivating and powerful new folk-inspired musical. The Wicker Husband, by Rhys Jennings and Darren Clark, was the winner of the inaugural MTI Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award in 2016 celebrating new British musical theatre writers and was included in the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 30th Annual Festival of New Musicals in New York.

Casting details are announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) 2020 Summer production of The Comedy of Errors, which plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 25 April 2020. Joining the previously announced Miles Jupp, who will make his RSC debut as Antipholus of Syracuse, is Jonathan Broadbent (Dromio of Syracuse), Justin Edwards (Antipholus of Ephesus), Greg Haiste (Dromio of Ephesus), Georgia Landers (Luciana) and Annette McLaughlin (Adrianna). Directed by Phillip Breen, the production will be cross-cast with The Winter's Tale (from 28 March 2020) and Pericles (from 15 August 2020). All three plays are sponsored by Darwin Escapes.

Sheffield Theatres today announce the full cast for Robert Hastie's new production of Coriolanus. The production follows his critically acclaimed productions of Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Joining previously announced cast member Tom Bateman are Hermon Berhane, Mudassar Dar, Stella Gonet, Esther McAuley, Remmie Milner, Theo Ogundipe, Louis J Rhone, Eddie-Joe Robinson, Kate Rutter, Malcolm Sinclair, Katy Stephens, Ben Wiggins and Alex Young. The company is completed by members of Sheffield People's Theatre, Sheffield Theatres' intergenerational theatre company.

Winter Opera St. Louis continues its 13th season with a most charming production of Gaetano Donizetti's comic La fille du regiment (The Daughter of the Regiment).

Gail Louw's new play The Good Dad (A Love Story) opens at The Old Red Lion Theatre for a four-night limited run on Wednesday, 12 February 2020 (Press Nights: Wednesday, 12 February 2020 at 7pm) as part of The Old Red Lion's 'Where Are We Now?' festival of emerging artists.

The Dartmouth College Department of Theater will present the US premiere of a new hit UK play with tremendous curb appeal and high praise in the British press.

The eighth annual Magic of Storytelling campaign kicked off yesterday, during which Disney will celebrate its 75 millionth book donation to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new, free and affordable books to educators and organizations serving children in need. The Magic of Storytelling campaign aims to inspire families' imaginations, cultivate a lifelong love of reading in kids and bring new books to underserved communities across the country.

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. Due to popular demand, four performances have been added to the production, including Sunday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, February 12 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. The Fulton Theatre is proud to have secured the rights to this new adaptation, running January 16 through February 9, 2020, with previews January 14 & 15. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

Take a look back on Richard Easton's life and career with a collection of vintage photos from our archives. 

Warner Bros has released the trailer for Tenet, a film by Christopher Nolan.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Broadway veteran the Tony Award winner Richard Easton has died. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Easton was 86.

Colin Callender's Tony and Golden Globe award-winning production company Playground (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Lucky Guy) today announces its expansion into immersive theatre with its support of WITNESS, a new theatre company created and led by Artistic Director Michael Bontatibus, former creative executive at Playground. WITNESS's recent sold-out productions include Noirtown which premiered at the Rave Theatre Festival and was hailed by The New York Times as a?oeelectrifying,a?? Found Footage at Colonels Row on Governors Island, and The Visitation at the Wyckoff House, the oldest building in New York.

It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year! Back by public demand, The Barricade Boys today announce seven more guest stars who will be joining them during their Christmas residency from 10-28 December at The Other Palace in London's West End.